Duma to consider bill banning foreign adoptions by same sex couples

June 17, 2013, 15:12 UTC+3Presently, 14 countries of the world allow same-sex marriages

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MOSCOW, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian State Duma lower house of parliament will consider on Wednesday, June 19, a draft law banning the adoption of Russian children by foreign same sex couples, Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said on Monday.

He said the lower house “will consider an amendment imposing a ban on adoptions into families of other countries that recognize same sex marriages,” he said.

According to the speaker, the amendment will be considered within the framework of the second reading to a package of bills aimed at supporting orphans. In particular, a set of measures is planned to encourage the adoption of children into Russian families, as well as a sizable increase in the adoption benefit - to 100,000 roubles.

Earlier, the Duma committee for family, women and children asked the Duma to approve the amendment banning the adoption of Russian children by same-sex couples.

The amendment submitted by deputies Irina Yarovaya, Yelena Mizulina and Olga Batalina, adds on the list of people who cannot be adoptive parents and custodial parents “the persons married to same-sex persons as well as not married persons from the foreign states in which they are nationals or have permanent residence, whose legislation allows or recognizes same sex marriages”.

Presently, 14 countries of the world allow same-sex marriages. France became the last for the moment on this list after on May 18, French President Francois Hollande signed the law legalizing same-sex marriages and allowing these couples to adopt children.

With this in view, Russia that has a treaty on adoptions with France, may consider rescinding it, the head of the Duma commission for family, women and children, Yelena Mizulina from the A Just Russia Party said earlier. She also marked that the French side “has not yet ratified that document”.